Meaning and a Dog Named Scout

I am a healthcare consultant and educator following a long career in healthcare administration. I learned my craft over many years starting as a nurse aid in a Veteran’s hospital many years ago. I personally found my mission in life in this field and it has never let me down. I have never been bored and never felt that my work was not meaningful to myself and to those I serve. When times were bad for me, as happens to us all at some time, my work was my sanity. It brings me both meaning and joy.

Meaning and joy are two of the domains of well-being that were researched by a group of professionals in the nineties who developed the seven domains of well-being that human beings need at all ages to experience life to its full potential. The seven domains are: identity, growth, security, autonomy, connectedness, meaning and joy.

The Eden Alternative is the organization that brought these professionals together and used this collective knowledge and expertise to develop the concepts of what is needed to achieve human well-being. This work is called “The White Paper,” and available at www.EdenAlt.org. This work is currently embedded in the regulations that guide the care provided by nursing homes and as a basis for care in all post-acute care supports and services because well-being is a human need and a human right.

But what might that have to do with meaning and a dog named Scout and a Michigan nursing home located in the north of the state? It has literally everything to do with it. The dog pound is just down the road from Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility, a long-term care nursing home located in Antrim County, Michigan. The dog Scout (nameless at the time of his incarceration) was picked up as a stray and housed at the Antrim County Animal Control dog shelter. He was not a fan of the accommodations as good as they were.

The team at the dog shelter gave him a name as they knew nothing of his history. They did feel he had been abused as he carried himself fearfully at

time with tail down or tucked. He also had been shot with BBs or birdshot at some point in time, as evidenced by the healed over pellets embedded in his jaw. He decided to find greener pastures and his first escape drew him to the nursing home nearby; Meadowbrook. Their front doors were automatic and he waltzed in and seated himself on the couch. A nurse discovered him and he was returned to the shelter.

A few nights later, Scout returned after scaling a 10-foot chain link fence, a six-foot privacy fence, crossing a highway and entering the front door of Meadowbrook. Once again, he sprawled out on the couch and made himself at home. Yet again, he was returned to the shelter. On the third repeat of his return to the nursing home, the Administrator of the facility, Marna, decided his repeated efforts at residency must be a sign she should pay attention to.

Marna called her staff together and as a team they determined to adopt him. The humans who resided in this wonderful home were elated to have a pet and Scout elated to be there for them. Scout made himself right at home. Residents had treats and time for him, he felt safe, and he was home.

Now why all this story for meaning and well-being. Scout brought well-being to the Residents of this home by making daily rounds, checking in on his new family and he gave all of the recipients of his visitations special attention. He learned how to open doors to let himself in to visit. Scout loves Ritz crackers and receives them with joy. The housekeeping supervisor of the nursing home says that Scout is their security guard protecting his home and fellow residents. Scout is a resident, too!

Scout found meaning in his new job and in lifting the mood of those he greets daily. Scout brings joy and connection to those he visits. He also instinctively knows when a resident is feeling down and makes sure he stops in to brighten their mood. Maybe the domains of well-being apply to dogs as well as humans. His human companions received meaning in rescuing him and giving all the love and joy to him he had not received until now. This human and canine care team know what is important.

Scout has been featured across the country in numerous TV and radio news broadcasts and articles, he has been in magazines such as AARP’s monthly publication, and his story told at many a long-term care gathering. Scout is a hero, and so are those who love him. There are pictures of Scout in the April/May Edition of “AARP The Magazine,” and on the Meadowbrook Medical Care Facility, Bellaire, MI, Antrim County website, just a google away!

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As always, Here’s to Your Well-Being,

Sandra L. Place sandy@asandyplace.com www.asandyplace.com